Lenticular signs with discrete lens elements

Abstract

A lenticular or segmented sign for selectively viewing at least two separate images includes an image panel having at least two image fields subdivided into segments grouped in interleaved fields. A lens panel is provided by discrete and relatively movable lens elements carried on a facer panel, the lens elements including two or more lenses and being resiliently fixed to the facer panel at the top, adjacent lens elements being free to move relative to one another along their lengths. The lenses are preferably elongated vertical or horizontal strips attached to a transparent facer panel by hook or spring fasteners which engage in connectors by which adjacent lenses are attached together to form a lens element. The lens elements have spacer posts for positioning the lenses at the correct focal distance from the image strips. Compressible material or springs urge the lens elements laterally together, and as a unit the lens segments define a predetermined pitch notwithstanding manufacturing tolerances of the individual lenses. The pitch of the image segments is slightly larger than the pitch of the lenses, for allowing accurate viewing at close perspective. The lens panel is carried in a framing bracket which is adjustable to correct parallelism of the lenses relative to the image strips.

I claim: 
     
       1. A sign for selective display of multiple image fields, comprising: an image panel having at least two image fields, sub-divided into image segments, grouped said image segments from each of said at least two image fields being spaced to define an image pitch spacing extending across at least one of a length and width of the display;   a lens panel having lenses defining a lens pitch spacing, the lens pitch spacing corresponding substantially to said image pitch spacing, the lens panel comprising a plurality of discrete and relatively movable lens elements, each said lens element having at least one said lens, the lens elements being dimensioned to abut one another to position the lenses at said lens pitch spacing, the lenses and the image segments being defined by elongated strips, the lenses being fixed relative to the image panel and at least some of the lenses being movable relative to one another along abutments parallel to a line of elongation of the lenses;   means for mounting the lens elements adjacent one another over the grouped image segments of the image panel, so as to allow relative motion between abutted ones of the lens elements in at least one direction; and,   a transparent facer panel defining first opposite edges in the direction of elongation, the lens elements being mounted to the facer panel at least at one of the opposite edges.   
     
     
       2. The sign according to claim 1, wherein the image segments and lenses are elongated vertically, and further comprising a transparent facer panel defining a top and a bottom, the lens elements being suspended from the top of the facer panel. 
     
     
       3. The sign according to claim 1, further comprising laterally bearing resilient means operable to urge the lens elements into abutment in a direction perpendicular to the direction of elongation. 
     
     
       4. The sign according to claim 1, further comprising a resilient fastener between each of the lens elements and at least one of the opposite edges of the facer panel. 
     
     
       5. The sign according to claim 1, wherein the lens elements are attached to the facer panel at the top of the facer panel, and further comprising means for exerting a laterally inward pressure on the lens elements. 
     
     
       6. A sign for selective display of multiple image fields, comprising: an image panel having at least two image fields, sub-divided into image segments, grouped said image segments from each of said at least two image fields being spaced to define an image pitch spacing extending across at least one of a length and width of the display;   a lens panel having lenses defining a lens pitch spacing, the lens pitch spacing corresponding substantially to said image pitch spacing, the lens panel comprising a plurality of discrete and relatively movable lens elements, each said lens element having at least one said lens, the lens elements being dimensioned to abut one another to position the lenses at said lens pitch spacing, the lenses and the image segments being defined by elongated strips, the lenses being fixed relative to the image panel and at least some of the lenses being movable relative to one another along abutments parallel to a line of elongation of the lenses;   means for mounting the lens elements adjacent one another over the grouped image segments of the image panel, so as to allow relative motion between abutted ones of the lens elements in at least one direction; and,   a substantially transparent facer panel, and wherein the lenses, in cross-section, have a flat side and a rounded side, the flat side being disposed against a rear side of the facer panel and the rounded side being oriented toward the image panel.   
     
     
       7. The sign according to claim 6, further comprising a spacer post protruding from at least some of the lens elements in a direction perpendicular to the image panel, the spacer post maintaining a correct focal length of a respective lens relative to the image fields on the image panel. 
     
     
       8. The sign according to claim 6, wherein the lens panel and the image panel are composed of materials having substantially equal thermal expansion properties. 
     
     
       9. The sign according to claim 6, wherein the lens elements define elongated strips, each of the elongated strips having at least two lenses, and further comprising a connector bridging the at least two lenses of each said lens element and a fastener connecting the lens element to opposite edges of the facer panel. 
     
     
       10. The sign according to claim 9, wherein the lens elements each comprise an even number of lenses attached in lateral abutment by connectors adjacent opposite ends of said lens elements, the connectors attaching to the fastener, the fastener engaging one of the opposite edges of the facer panel. 
     
     
       11. A large format sign for selective display of changing images, comprising: an image panel having at least two image fields, subdivided into image segments, grouped said image segments from each of said at least two image fields being regularly spaced to define an image pitch spacing;   a lens panel having lenses defining a lens pitch spacing, the lens panels comprising a plurality of discrete and relatively movable lens elements, each said lens element having at least one said lens, the lens elements being dimensioned to abut one another with the lenses disposed at said lens pitch spacing, wherein the lens elements and the image segments are elongated strips, fixed relative to the image panel, the lens elements being movable relative to one another along abutments parallel to a line of elongation of the lenses;   means for mounting the lens elements adjacent one another over the grouped image segments of the image panel, so as to allow relative motion between the lens elements in at least one direction and such that the image pitch spacing is greater than the lens pitch spacing, by an amount placing the image strips substantially in line with the lenses from a viewing location at a finite distance from the sign; and,   a facer panel having opposite edges, the lens elements being suspended by ends of the lens elements from at least one of the opposite edges, and further comprising resilient means bearing laterally inwardly on the lens elements in a direction perpendicular to said line of elongation.   
     
     
       12. The large format sign according to claim 11, wherein each of the lenses has a flat side and a rounded side, the flat side being disposed against the facer panel and further comprising a spacer post protruding from at least one of the lenses to the image panel for spacing the lenses from the image panel at a correct focal length of the lenses. 
     
     
       13. A mounting format for attaching a lenticular sign to a base, comprising: means for removably mounting an image panel on the base, the image panel having at least two selectable images defined by interleaved lenticular strips;   a framing bracket fixable to the base and having means spaced from the base for receiving a transparent facer panel, the framing bracket including a removable segment for access to at least one of the lens panel and the image panel;   a plurality of elongated lens elements arranged on a rear of the facer panel, the lens elements including elongated lenses having a flat side disposed against the facer panel and a rounded side directed towards the image panel;   means for resiliently mounting the lens elements on the rear of the facer panel;   a plurality of spacer posts protruding from the lens elements to the image panel, the spacer post setting the lens elements at a distance from the image panel corresponding to a focal length of the lens segment; and,   a further bracket affixed to the base, the framing bracket being mounted to the base at least along the further bracket affixed to the base, the framing bracket being adjustably positionable relative to the further bracket at points spaced in a direction perpendicular to a line of elongation of the lenses, whereby adjustment of the framing bracket relative to the base regulates parallelism of the lenses relative to the lenticular strips of the image panel.   
     
     
       14. The mounting format according to claim 13, wherein the lenses and the lenticular strips are elongated vertically and the framing bracket is positionable relative to the further bracket by threadable means spaced horizontally along the framing bracket.